Fastener attacher

Abstract

Disclosed is an improved fastener attacher for therein loading and thereby dispensing fasteners which are manufactured in integral assemblies from a synthetic resin and which individually comprise a head, a crossbar and their connecting filament having a connecting neck through which each fastener is connected to a common connecting rod to form a fastener assembly, which attacher comprises an attacher main body and a protective guide member which is mounted on an upper portion of the former and by which a fastener assembly loaded in the attacher is flexed and maintained along the upper edge of the attacher main body.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fastener attaching device for loading and dispensing an assembly of fasteners, each fastener having a head, a crossbar, a filament connecting together the head and the crossbar, a neck disposed normal to the crossbar and extending away from the head, connecting rods disposed at the end of the fastener neck opposite the crossbar and extending normal to the neck and crossbar, the connecting rods of the fasteners being integrally joined and interconnecting the fasteners to form the assembly, said attaching device comprising: means for individually dispensing said fasteners including an attachment mechanism, and   means, disposed along an upper surface of said dispensing means, for holding said fastener assembly, said holding means includng a first wall extending upwardly from, and substantially normal to, said dispensing means upper surface, and a second wall extending normal to said first wall and overlaying said upper surface,   said first and second walls defining means for guiding said fastener assembly connecting rods to said attaching mechanism,   said second wall including surface means, disposed parallel to said first wall, for supporting said crossbars of said fastener assembly,   said surface means comprising a third wall extending toward said upper surface parallel with said first wall, said third wall including a surface facing said upper surface and abutting the necks of said fasteners, said third wall being positioned between said crossbars and said connecting necks of said fastener assembly.   
     
     
       2. The fastener attaching device of claim 5, wherein siad first, second and third walls define means for housing said connecting rods of said fastener assembly. 
     
     
       3. The fastener attaching device of claim 1, wherein said first wall includes an opening for observing the number of unused fasteners in said guide means. 
     
     
       4. A fastener attaching device for loading and dispensing an assembly of fasteners, each fastener having a head, a crossbar, a filament connecting together the head and the crossbar a neck disposed normal to the crossbar and extending away from the head, connecting rods disposed at the end of the fastener neck opposite the crossbar and extending normal to the neck and crossbar, the connecting rods of the fasteners being integrally joined and interconnecting the fasteners to form the assembly, said attaching device comprising: means for individually dispensing said fasteners including an attachment mechanism; and   means, disposed along an upper surface of said dispensing means, for holding said fastener assembly, said holding means including a first wall extending upwardly from, and substantially normal to, said dispensing means upper surface, and a second wall extending normal to said first wall and overlying said upper surface,   said first and second walls defining means for guiding said fastener assembly connecting rods to said attaching mechanism,   said second wall including surface means, disposed parallel to said first wall, for supporting said crossbars of said fastener assembly,   said holding means further including a dispensing end located near said attaching mechanism and a loading end disposed rearwardly thereof, said dispensing end including pivot means pivotably supporting means for retaining said fastener assembly in said guide means.   
     
     
       5. The fastener attaching device of claim 4, wherein said retaining means includes a portion for supporting the connecting necks of said fasteners of said fastener assembly. 
     
     
       6. The fastener attaching device of claim 5, wherein said portion is directed toward said second wall. 
     
     
       7. The fastener attaching device of claim 4, wherein said retaining means is normally urged toward said second wall. 
     
     
       8. The fastener attaching device of claim 7, wherein said first wall includes an opening therethrough defining a slot, and said retaining means comprises a handle projecting through said opening, said retaining means being manipulable, via said handle, into and out of first and second positions relative to said fastener assembly connecting rods, said first position locking said fastener assembly within said guiding means and second assembly unlocking said fastener assembly from said guiding means.